Penstemon grow well for me, haven't tried Electric Blue, but I have several others.

I read not to mulch these too much because it can cause crown rot. On one plant site they recommend rock mulch, but some people hate that stuff. I didn't mulch mine at all so we'll see how they perform.

I have husker's red, a white one, and one called blueberry buckle, I believe. They're all growing in near neutral clay soil, and I never heard not to mulch them, so I always have. No problems at all, and hummingbirds love them. It gets pretty hot (90's) and humid, and they haven't seemed to mind. Don't know how that relates to your climate, tho.

Sounds like it's worth a try, thanks!

Huster's Red is doing well in its second year here in my sandy soil amended with compost. I never heard not to mulch either, so it went through winter and spring with a layer of shredded leaf mulch and seems fine (keeping fingers crossed now). Our climate, like flowerluvr's, can get pretty hot and humid in summer. I know nothing about 'Electric Blue', however will not have to go look it up ;-)

Good luck!

husker's red is about the most forgiving of these plants - most are less so and need excellent drainage. The western ones and hybrids especially can be difficult in humid areas.

I grow a bunch of penstemons, all of which I love.

P. digitalis "Huskers Red" - established plants, occasionally reseeds; needs support
P. barbatus "Iron Maiden" - doesn't reseed; floppy
P. eatonii - grown from seed; few years old; floppy
P. tenius/Rocky Mountain Penstemon; grown from seed; floppy
P. x mexicali "Red Rocks"; short, lovely.

I'd grown a few others that were short lived; "Shock Wave", "Victoria", "Navigator", P. strictus.

I had heavy clay, typical in NJ, and had amended in peat moss years ago in most of my beds, although I do still find patches of nasty clay, of which whatever is planted there is fine in. We have plenty of heat & humidity in the summer months and I've never had any problems that I'd noticed.

As much as I love penstemons, they can be extremely floppy, and most need some kind of support...

I have a Penstemon that I love. It came to me in a trade and has since been id'd to me as Gulf Coast Penstemon. It will take more water than most (doesn't need sharp drainage).

{{gwi:248050}}

I was looking at them last night and I realized I needed to take a picture with their seed pods. They are very colorful even in that stage.

The best part, they are easy from seed!

Lisa

Very pretty Lisa. I don't really want something that needs staking. Do most of you let Penstemon self seed?